The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-16

ing firearms havo been used by the Mutes
in hunting, but previous to their introduc-
ton spears made with copper or iron heads
were used, the frame for carrying the spear
boing carved from walrus ivory. To the
end Of the spear long coil Of seal line Is at
tached, to which at intervals bladders Of the
seal arc fastened. In these ways the hardy
natives hunt the animal which affords them
not only food, but also oil for their lamps
and hides for their clothing. When the icy
wind sweeps over the frozen expanse Of sea,
carrying with it small pellicles Of snow that,
striking the face, cut tho skin like charge
of shot; when fog and snow mist envelop
the landscape, Mute hunter has to possess
grit and narve to face conditions that no
white man has ever yet done.
SUMNER SPORTS
In the summer, when the ocean in again
free from tho grasp Of the iceberg, seals dis
port themselves at the mouth OF every
stream and rivulet in order to catch fish or
seatleas. Then the kyack Is called into re-
quisition In this frail construct n Of skin
and wood the hunter, launched Upon the
waves, paddles quietly and gently upon the
seal until within range. Naturally very
inquisitiye animal, au imitation Of the Groom
ing noiso peculiar to the phoce is sufficient
to make a seal swim On the top Of the water
with its head protruding, thereby insuring
good object to aim at. Whistling Is also re-
sorted to in attracting the seal to the surface.
The variety Of seal known as tho ''smooth
black hair" is highly priced by the natives
throughout the territory Of Alaska north OF
the Aicutian islands. It's large hide forma
AZ 81. 20 n1 o1Q
serves as boot soles entirely impervious to
water. Saddle backs are rarely seen to ths
north of Point Hope. These are very hand
some and conspicuous animals as they lie
basking in the sun upon the Ice. Their
color is q deep chocolate brown, with brood
band Of white, shape like saddle, which
extends from tho hack aound the belly,
and from this peculiar marking they derive
their name. h... a.--
Forty years ago immense herds Of the
bulky walrus might be seen disporting In
tho waters of tho Dehring and Arctic seas.
Owing to the prices which their irory tusks
were valued OF hunting of these pinnipeds be-
camo source OF profit 20 the whalers. As
q consequence of indiscriminate slaughter
their numbers have been sensibly reduced,
and except around Bristol bay mud flats and
upon Walrus island OF the PribyloR group
but few walrus are now seen in the Alaskan
seas.
There is perhaps no animal in nature that
appears so clumsy and so i'll adapted to loco
motion as this enormous brute Upon land
they arc utterly helpless. When striving to
effect O. landing upon an ice foe or rocks
they uso their fore fippers to hold on by and
wait for the assistance of each wave to hoist
them up to the desired spot. In hunting the
walrus the rife is used by the natives, but it
would be safe to say that within the past few
years not more than hundred have been
killed between St. Lawrence island and Point
Barrow, owing to their shy nature. While
walrus ivory has SO deprecated in value that
it docs not pay to bring it to this port, de-
mand has sprung up for the hides, which
have been found to make the finest and most
durable leather for betting purposes. Tho
use OF tho tusl,s that form the appendages to
the walrus' head is TO enable the animal to
dig for clans end other shell fish and also
tho bulb roots of sea weeds that are to be
found ot the mouths OF the numerous small
streams ami creeks that flow into the Arctic.
WHALE AND BEAR.
Schools of white whale-beluga, or gram.
pus-are tie first Of the cetacean family
that appear along tho Alaskan shores when
tho ice begins to break up. Their cleaning
whito color is sensibly visible as they grace
fully clarc the dark green waters OF the sea.
Following the ice pack as it drifts to north
and west, these grampus seem to be the fore
runners Of their gigantic brothers, the bow
mead whale bala,na, in their passage to tho
northern waters. In hunting these white
whales tho natives on Kotzebue sound dis.
play great ingenuity. A fleet Of kyacks
spread into semicircle incloses the school,
graduallydrivins the atfrighted fish into shall
low water, until, being unable to escape by
reason CT grounding upon the beach, they fall
easy victims to tho spear or harpoons Of
their hunters On tha coast to the north
Of tho sound tho riae again serves as q
weapon to kill tho beluga. White whale
blubber resembles linburger cheese in taste,
while the flesh, il Of calf, is tender and palat-
cb!c. The fins when boiled and covered
with vinegar are an excellent substitute for
pigs feet.
Urs,,s AInericanus or the white polar bear
is Glso food Sapplier for tho Mutes. The
extent Of bruin S travels in tho Arctic region
are flr anil wide. Observations by Capt.
lTcal,-, Of The U;.ted States revenue marine,
c.ov. the fact t.,at the polar Eear's southern
limit Of range is St. Mathew island-lG0 de-
rrccs, 50 minutes north latitudej in the Beh-
rinr sr1. h:irro that few Of these Lears
wero seen sr:ae years ago near the Seal
islands. Prr'''GgG the season was late one,
AMI they w%I'c seen rion large ice foe
drifting. At st. Mathews the polar bears
have lairs ard dens a, ing the rocky glens
that diversity that island.
In summer the hairy coat Of tho polar
hear turns to dingy yellow. and its pelt
then becomes vs-lcss. These bears are a.
rant towards, aud will not attack any one
unless there are two or three IN company.
As soon cs they SCH. q man approaching
they run cway as fast IS they can. There
arc but few rec ortis Of bear killing any
nativc along The northwestern coast. The
NutcS arc very partial to white bear meat,
but the b!uhbcr they reject and even tho
dos unless they are very hungry, turn up
their noses at tho oily mass. It is almost an
10 obtain an entire skin Of any
kind OF bear. The Mutcs throughout tho
territory cut or tho lead and claws Grd
either throw them into the sea or running
water or else bury them in the ground. This
Is done to enable tho hunters to kill more
bears, and the idea is that if the other bears
SEQ the heads or claws of their dead friends
tbav uyiIl 1oa dirf,.tat 49,